Rome has asked for time to consider
the compromise on the new Pact on Migration and Asylum proposed
by the Spanish presidency of the EU, several European sources
said on Thursday.
As a result, the approval the Pact, which has been expected on
Thursday, risks being delayed.
The compromise on the Pact's crisis regulation was an attempt to
meet Germany's requests regarding the protection for migrants
and on NGO rescues at sea.
Earlier on Thursday European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva
Johansson had expressed optimism that EU member States would
reach a final agreement on new rules in Brussels.
"Progress has been made and I am optimistic that an agreement
can be found today on the last tranche of the Migration Pact,"
Johansson told reporters before the start.
"Afterwards we can begin the trialogues," she added, referring
to the inter-institutional negotiations between the European
Parliament, the Council and the Commission for the adoption of
EU legislation.
"As with other chapters of the Pact there was tension at the
beginning, but in the end we succeeded in managing" an
agreement, said Johansson.
Proposed by the European Commission in 2020, the New Pact on
Migration and Asylum aims to create a fairer, more efficient and
more sustainable migration and asylum process for the European
Union, with an emphasis on solidarity and responsibility sharing
among member states.
However, negotiations have been slow amid deep divisions within
the bloc about how to proceed, with strong opposition especially
from Hungary and Poland.
Italy is struggling to manage an almost 100% increase in the
number of migrants and refugees arriving on its southern shores
so far this year compared to the same period in 2022.
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